Who Can Help?
Dear Brother Tant:
I am writing in reference to my work here in Newbern, North Carolina. We have baptized and been able to locate six other members. This gives us eight that we can depend on. We have obtained a place to meet — in other words, we have now established a congregation here in Newbern. I must return to Akron soon, but of course will be trying to do something for the work here, to keep it alive. Is there any way that you can help? What we need here: (1) A full time preacher of course supported from sources elsewhere, (2) money to purchase a lot to set our tent on for meetings each season, and to build a meetinghouse on at some later date.
Newbern: A city of almost 20,000 population, situated at the convergence of the Trent and Neuse rivers. This is an old, historical location — the seat of the colonial government of the colony of the Carolinas. The city is historical minded, having markers all over the place; they discourage big industry from coming in because they want to remain a tourist attraction. The chief industry is commercial fishing, and serving as the nearest town to the biggest Marine Air Base in the world (Cherry Point). A large portion of the working population are employed at Cherry Point, a permanent thing. Camp LeJuene another permanent Marine Base is only 35 miles away.
The Digressive church is strong in this area, but is split up into two or three branches. There are some small groups near that withdrew from the UCMS, and only the instrumental music stands between them and us. Alexander and Thomas Campbell preached here; the church was once strong through this area but the innovators got it. Only loyal congregations nearby are: Newport, 25 miles away, with 100 members and a building just completed but not yet paid for; Kingston, 35 miles distant, with 40 members and no building; Jacksonville, 35 miles distant, with about 70 members and a building which is paid for; Wilmington, 80 miles away, with about 50 members and a building. Preachers in the area are W. J. Lemmons at Kinston, C. H. Crider at Newport, Harvey Riggs coming to Jacksonville, and Sidney Asten at Raleigh (125 miles away).
Yours, Wm. E. Wallace
The above letter from Brother Wallace is self-explanatory. It sets forth a worthy call from a promising field. Readers of the Gospel Guardian know that we have carried a number of articles relative to the opportunities in North Carolina, and appeals for congregations and individuals to become interested in the area. This short meeting by Brother Wallace at Newbern shows that the people are receptive; they can be reached. They ought to be helped.
Since the two big Marine bases (Cherry Point and Camp LeJuene) are permanent installations there will undoubtedly be hundreds of Christian young men through the years coming to that area. They will need some faithful congregation nearby where they can worship and with which they can work. What church is willing to undertake the task of helping Newbern? Who will be willing to support a gospel preacher there, and go into that task with a plan to remain behind the work until a good strong congregation is built up?
All correspondence relative to the work and any financial help for the Newbern Church should be addressed to: George Jones, 314 Crescent Street, Newbern; North Carolina. Or, if information is desired from Brother Wallace, his address is 641 Elma Street, Akron, Ohio. He formerly lived and preached in North Carolina, but is working right now with the Thayer Street congregation in Akron. He returns to North Carolina every few months for meetings.
We appeal to some faithful congregation to devote themselves to the task of building up a strong church in Newbern. It will require time, patience, money, and effort. But the results are most certain. Why can we not be willing to concentrate work and resources in building up one place at a time, rather than scattering and dissipating our funds over a score of places? If a congregation has $500.00 a month to spend for mission work, why would it not be wiser to pick out some favorable location (like Newbern) and invest the funds there, rather than sending $10.00 to this appeal, $20.00 to that appeal, $15.00 to still another, and perhaps $30.00 somewhere else? A strong congregation can be built up in Newbern; they already have eight members who can be depended on. There can likely be found several faithful men and boys in the Marine bases who will help as long as they are stationed there. And when they leave others will come. But the help of some "mission minded" church is needed right now. We pray that such may be found.
— F. Y. T.